GAME NOTES: After winning a close opening round contest, the sixth seeded South Alabama Jaguars will challenge the third-seeded ULM Warhawks in the quarterfinals of the 2015 Sun Belt Conference Tourney on Friday at Lakefront Arena.

The winner of this game will meet the number two overall seed, Georgia Southern, on Saturday in the tournament semifinals.

Barrington Stevens knocked down two free-throw attempts with 11 seconds remaining in South Alabama's opening round game against seventh seeded Arkansas-Little Rock to help the Jaguars advance with a 57-55 victory.

The Warhawks won two of their final four games to close out their regular season, including a 56-53 win over Texas State on Saturday. The victory was the 20th of the season for ULM.

This will be the 16th meeting between these teams on the hardwood, with South Alabama leading the series 9-6. The Warhawks won both meetings between the sides this season by scores of 67-61 and 75-57

South Alabama converted 38.9 percent of its field-goal attempts against Arkansas-Little Rock and held the Trojans to a 29.9 shooting percentage that included just 7-of-25 from beyond the arc. The Jaguars out-rebounded the Spartans, 47-36. Stevens was the top scorer for South Alabama with 14 points while Dionte Ferguson tallied a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Ken Williams leads South Alabama this season with 15.9 ppg (seventh in the Sun Belt), while Taishaun Johnson is second on the team with 12.9 ppg. The Jaguars average 69.6 ppg and convert 42.3 percent of their field-goal attempts, including 34 percent from beyond the arc. The Jaguars unfortunately rank last in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (74.4 ppg) and second to last for field- goal percentage defense (.446). South Alabama also ranks last in the Sun Belt in turnover margin (-3.23).

ULM erased a 12-point deficit and shot 41.7 percent from the field to win its final game of the regular season. The Warhawks held Texas State to a 34.5 shooting percentage and tallied more bench points than the Bobcats (21-9). Majok Deng nearly tallied a double-double as he finished with 11 points and nine rebounds in the victory.

Tylor Ongwae is the top scorer for the Warhawks with 13.8 ppg (10th in the Sun Belt), while both Deng and Ongwae are the team's top rebounders (6.9 rpg, sixth and seventh respectively in the Sun Belt). ULM scores 64.5 ppg and converts 43.2 percent of its field-goal tries which unfortunately includes the lowest 3-point field-goal percentage in the Sun Belt (.301). The Warhawks do rank second in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (60.2 ppg) and first in field- goal percentage defense (.382) and 3-point defense (.297). ULM ranks second in the Sun Belt in rebounding margin (+2.4).

The Warhawks defend extremely well and limited South Alabama to an average of 59 ppg in the two meetings this season. The Jaguars on the other hand, struggle on the defensive end and will likely be unable to compete with Deng and Ongwae down low. Expect the Warhawks to advance.